The Ancient Dying Dead Sea

61 images Created 19 Aug 2009

Legend says that it was first the Queen of Sheba who believed in the mystical healing powers of this ancient body of water known as the Dead Sea since Roman-Greco times which was created millions of years ago .Cleopatra traveled to it and built the first spa.Tourists from all over the world come to bath and absorb its healing powers but today they have to walk further and further to enter its waters as scientist fear the Dead Sea is dying .
For thousands of years this body of water, known as one of the saltiest in the world and its shores located at the lowest point on Earth, 1,300 feet below sea level, was able to maintain its equilibrium from a fragile natural cycle . Now its water level is dropping by one meter per year .
Since the 1950's the increase of human consumtion in the area has been growing . The Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers, a vital source of fresh water that feeds into the Dead Sea have been diverted for irrigation and have been polluted .The Potash industry is also a major factor as its demand grows.
Scientist fear that a plan known as the Dead-Red which would involve Israel, The Palestinian Authority and Jordan could harm it further . This plan, backed my the World Bank would pump water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea to restore the water level back to normal , but scientist are unsure that this may not cause more ecological damage and turn the Dead Sea red.